Fall travel fun

October 16, 2018

It is this time of the year that I miss the leaves changing, cool nights, and temperate climates.  Rainy season seems to drone on and on.  Mud is a serious impediment to movement.  Today we are reading a book about the seasons and doing a leaf tracing with the kids, all in an effort to recognize the autumn season.

A Trip to Uganda

We just returned from a short road trip to Uganda to procure batteries for the hospital.  Power is a serious problem when the sun does not shine for our little “off the grid hospital.”  The hospital received several grants to help with the costs.  It is a large initial investment that pays off in the long term.  It was nice to get away from the threat of Ebola and be refreshed. 

There were lots of fun times on our road trip to Uganda.  It took about 16-18hours to make the 308 km trip to Kampala.  Google maps says it takes 11hours 55minutes, but the reality is otherwise!  We try to have some fun camping along the way, seeing animals in Murchison Falls and on the Nile

River.  We really enjoyed time as a family, with our friend and visiting surgeon Jen.  It is a season of firsts for our four-year old.  It gives us a lot of joy to see Emmanuel enjoy ‘catching’ a Nile perch and roasting it over the fire and learning how to swim for the first time.  He is gaining the confidence to swim and is not afraid of being underwater.  Rivers equate with crocodiles.  Elephants sleep under trees.  We sleep in a tent house.  As I am reading about this developmental stage, it seems that his rational thought is catching up with his emotions.  He is able to modulate his emotions and deal with his feelings, even express them.  We are really enjoying this new phase of parenting.  We are always thankful

to return safely to Nyankunde.

The Ebola Outbreak

As many of you know, we find ourselves living in a province affected by Ebola.  Our hospital has taken certain measures such as completion of an isolation ward, triage, and general infection control.  These are difficult days for hospital staff as our patient load has decreased significantly.  According to the government, we should only be doing emergency (no elective) surgery.  We have not had any confirmed cases here, for which we are so thankful.  Still there is a lot of fear in the population and fear makes people leave treatment centers, conceal the severity of their illness, and flee to outside hospitals.  The epicenter of this outbreak is in North Kivu in and around Beni.  However,  people have fled north to cities in our area.  Join us in prayer for the Lord’s protection of our staff and village.

Home Assignment

We are returning to the US for a short period at the end of the year (December-March).  This has been a particularly stressful time with the current outbreak and upcoming elections.  We are blessed to have a surgeon with us for the year.  This really gives us the freedom to travel and take a little time off.  It is the first time in 6 years that we are leaving with a surgeon in place.  We are looking forward to spending time with family and friends over the holidays in the Blue Ridge mountains, reconnecting with supporting churches, and taking care of medical appointments/etc.  We won’t be doing as much traveling this time, but we would love to see you.    

We know that God is with us.  He is sovereign and directs our paths.  He gives us purpose and daily lives that matter for His kingdom.  We have the honor to represent Jesus to others in our work.  

Prayer points:

-Please pray for the end of the Ebola outbreak in eastern Congo.  Pray for an end to fear and violence that escalate the problems.  

-Pray for Nyankunde Hospital as it struggles to pay staff and provide patient care.  Pray that we would represent Jesus well in our daily work.

-Pray for our preparations for home assignment in a few weeks.  Pray for a joyous time of reconnection with family and friends.

-Rejoice with us that the hospital chapel rehabilitation project is moving forward.  This is the last  link to the project:  https://youtu.be/uaeM-FhP8OM.  

An aerial view of the old hospital chapel

building of Nyankunde Hospital to be rehabilitated since the war.  The hospital received a generous donation from Redeemer Church in LaMirada California that will allow the work to commence.  If you would like to see more about this project, please email us privately: warrenandlindsey@gmail.com.  Check out the video

-Pray that we would also be growing in our walk with the Lord and with the community.

"Now to Him who is able to do infinitely more than we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever!  Amen."  Ephesians 3: 20-21.

With love and blessing,

Lindsey, Warren, & Emmanuel Cooper

We need each other

September 2, 2018

Medical Care and Discipleship in Pairs

This week I have been helping our Samaritan's Purse nursing friend, John Troke, with training procedures for donning and doffing personal protective equipment (PPE).  We have been training small groups of nurses and
physicians and continue to do so this week.  We have been focusing on the fact that patient care and decontamination is always done in pairs, one that can directly check and assist the other.  We saw first hand that the people who did the best at this skill were those who collaborated and learned from each other well.  It took the others considerably more time to perform the skill with more mistakes, some of them crucial.  It was encouraging to them to realize that they would never be alone when asked to care for a patient in isolation.  

 There is a Biblical lesson in all of this.  The first lesson is that we need each other.  Everyone is important.  Everyone.  We need others to see our blind sides, and to protect us.  There are dangers all around us; if we recognized them all we would rarely leave the house!  Ebola is a very serious disease, and one in which it is necessary to take every infection control measure to prevent contracting or spreading it.  The spiritual parallels are profound from spiritual warfare, to discipleship, to marriage, to accountability with others.  There is an enemy.  This enemy seeks to undermine us, to break down our relationship with God and others.  When we are out of communion with others who can help and keep us accountable, we can start to make serious mistakes.  I am learning that our partner is just as important as the personal protective equipment that we are wearing.  Oh how we need to value one another highly.

In the New Testament Jesus sent out the disciples in groups of two.  It wasn't an accident, convenience, or convention.  This was intentional on the part of Jesus.  They were told to declare the Word of God boldly.  They had the support of each other.  They had different giftings and could relate to people differently.  There are many examples, among those: Paul and Barnabas, Paul and Silas, and Mark and Barnabas.  Two people provide a credible witness of something, teaching and miracles included (John 3:11).  The testimony of one person was not considered acceptable by God (1Corinthians 14:29).  "Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses" 2Corinthians 13:1.  Then there is the issue of credibility of two persons (Mark 6:11) when someone rejected the teachings of Jesus.  Not to mention it is always more fun to do something alongside another person!  I continue to learn Biblical truths from medicine.

Emmanuel's 4th Birthday

Last week our son Emmanuel turned age 4!  
We celebrated by doing one of

his favorite activities, going for an airplane ride!  We sang and ate coconut cake in the plane over eastern Congo.  Our friend Chad said that it was his first in-flight birthday party.  Then over the weekend we had a birthday party at the house with a water theme.  The kids painted things that live in the water.  Some of the Congolese kids were not so familiar with things other than fish, so we had some plastic examples to copy.  Then we swam, fished out sunken fish toys, threw water balloons, and slid down the slip and slide.  There was a lot of activity going on!  It is a blessing to be part of a larger missionary and village community.  Emmanuel has a rich childhood.  We are so grateful to God for the gift that he is to us.  

Thank you for so many of your personal messages and prayers for us and our hospital.  This is a  period of high disease vigilance and a time when we want to limit hospitalizations to only essential cases.

-Pray for the control of ebola in eastern Congo.  Pray against fear that keeps people from seeking care and infecting others.

-Pray for the witness of Nyankunde Hospital, that we would be faithful witnesses of the Word of God.

-Pray for Emmanuel as he starts preschool again next week.

Blessings from eastern Congo.

Lindsey

OUR PET GOAT

An epidemic and a full life on the field

August 14, 2018

An Epidemic

Mixing chlorine hand wash stations 

There is a lot going on in our minds and hearts these days.  Last week was one of the longest weeks of our lives overseas...so much happened.  Many of you have probably heard that eastern Congo is experiencing an Ebola epidemic, the country’s 10th epidemic.  The declaration came only days after the previous one ended in western Congo.  The area affected is in North Kivu, 3 hours south of here.  We have not had any active cases of Ebola here, but it is cause for much preparation and testing of suspected individuals.  Samaritan’s Purse (SP) has been a great resource as we work on hospital sanitation protocols, isolation, decontamination and overall ways to protect ourselves from pathogens such as this.  Our SP nursing friend, John, has been here working with the staff.  One never wants these things to happen and my heart goes through many emotions everyday.  Keep praying for the Congo, for the people who are incredibly fearful, and that hospital ministry will be able to continue.  We want our presence to be an encouragement to our Congolese colleagues.  We really should not write more details here, but feel free to contact us and please pray for these preparations.

“We put our hope in the Lord.  He is our help and shield.  In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in

his holy name.  Let your unfailing love surround us, Lord, for our hope is in you alone.”  Psalm 33:20-23

Pediatric Victories

We have had a run of amazing recoveries from extrapulmonary TB, close to 14 cases!  It is such a blessing to see kids recover their strength and ability of play, gain weight, and for some to walk

A child with peritoneal TB and
drainage of a pancreatic pseudocyst

again.  I am reminded of how miraculous the human body is.  One little boy whose name is Emmanuel is recovering from TB meningitis.  He had a classic presentation of the disease complete with nerve palsies, inability to swallow, seizures….scary stuff.  After weeks of treatment and a few setbacks he is recovering slowly.  After almost 2months of nasogastric feeds he regained neurological function enough to swallow again.  Absolutely amazing!  There have been 7 other kids just like this who have recovered.  Our number of pediatric hospitalizations increases in July due to malaria and many get diagnosed with chronic infections.

Sometimes families communicate a profound sense of thankfulness to me and it all feels worth it.  I am just an instrument God is using to further His kingdom and blessing here.  It is an sacred honor to care for the physical body.  To see these recoveries makes it all worth it!  

Congo Impact Team

In July, Nyankunde hosted a sports evangelism team from California called “Congo Impact.”  The

local kids called it “Summer Camp”.  It was a much anticipated event with music, Scriptural teaching, and fun.  We took care of the team’s lodging, health, and food during their stay here.  It was hard to participate in the daytime activities so this was a way we could be involved.  There is some amazing videography of the village and hospital.  As always with visitors I see things with a little different lens, a new lens.  I see beauty in a new way, as well as brokenness.  I see that the Congolese are a colorful and strong people.  They have a dynamic walk with God.  They have a real sense of spiritual combat and that all is not well in the world and that we must fight with prayer.  It is always a blessing to have visitors come, even as a reminder of what I am doing here.

During their time here we took a few video clips of the hospital, including the old chapel that CME is looking to rebuild.  It was encouraging to me to hear how the chapel was used for evangelical

There is no roof

music groups, theater, graduations, weddings and spiritual counseling.  The chapel was a centralized building for the entire community.  One of the hospital personnel mentioned how the building had housed many instruments, all of which were pillaged during the conflict.  Upon moving back after the war, everyone talked about how medical care had to be prioritized for a displaced population.  The chapel was not the most pressing need.  There isn’t currently enough space for large group meetings in the current temporary meeting place.  It is moving to see that the Congolese have started to make bricks to rehabilitate this chapel.  We

Hospital administration testifies to the importance of the chapel

are encouraged by several churches who have shown interest in giving to this project.  Feel free to contact us independently if you are interested in what is going on!

Family Newsroom

In other news, we have added a new animal to our family, a friendly goat named Elsa.  She is very accustomed to people and tries to get in the house.  Emmanuel dotes his love on her.  Emmanuel is learning to swim in a small pool 2m x 2m and spends most afternoons running and plunging into the water with his friends.  It is great to see kids have so much fun with such simple things.  A few weeks ago a few of our Congolese neighbors came over for a little swim and the pool turned into a giant instrument.  I am told that girls grow up playing rhythms in the river with their hands while the boys swim.  It was very interesting for us to see.  We are harvesting our peanuts, turning over the garden, and trying two new beehives.  There is not a dull moment and there is always a project to be done (or cleaned up).  


-Pray for the containment of the Ebola crisis here in eastern Congo.  It has been stressful time and difficult to know when/if to separate myself from the risks at the hospital.  Pray for encouragement of our staff who have been feeling a lot of fear and uncertainty.

-Pray that we would love well in Jesus' name everyday.


Blessings,
Lindsey

from Warren:  the Mysterious case of the Exploding water bottle. 

So it seems we are the referral center for weird and wonderful cases.  Recently we saw a man with an unusual story.  He came home from work thirsty...very thirsty. He got a bottle of water and was about to open it up when...it exploded!  

Me:  Exploded?

Him:  Yes, it exploded!

Me:  Was it ordinary water, or was there some alcohol in it, or maybe some alcohol in you?

Him:  No.  Ordinary water.  Then I passed out, woke up and found myself wet with water, and I had a sharp pain in my chest.

Me:  Fascinating...

I could continue on in this vein, but in the interest of time, I will summarize.  He was surprised to see that the plastic cap of the water bottle was missing.  The pain in his chest became worse and he found that he could not eat or drink without pain.  After consultation with a series of hospitals, he came to Nyankunde, concerned that the missing bottle top might have ended up inside him somehow.  He arrived at our facility about a week after the incident. I made him try to drink some water and it was pretty clear that something was wrong. We decided to take a look with a scope.

After he received sedation and some ketamine, I decided to question him again.  It was such a ridiculous story that I couldn’t believe it.  Under the influence of my “truth serum” the story remained the same; exploding water bottle, chest pain and inability to swallow. 

We put the scope down and halfway down the esophagus, there was a flash of blue. It looked kind of like the top of a water bottle.  Actually, exactly like it. We were able to push the bottle top into the stomach, then get a snare around it.  Even then, it was not easy to remove.  It took a fair amount of pulling to get it out of this upper esophagus. We had to move his neck into different positions before it came out.  A quick check demonstrated that he was still breathing and was not bleeding. 

In the end, it was a nice little case and we were able to help the man.  I don’t ever say that I’ve seen it all, there is always something surprising. 

Another surprising event that has struck has been the Ebola outbreak in the neighboring region of North Kivu. It has now officially spread to Ituri.  This is where we live.  You can read about it in the news, I guess.  So far we have not had any cases here, but we are doing our best to prepare for what may happen.  

Warren

Our team is rejoicing. Look closely and you will see the bottle cap at the end of the snare. 

A recent trip to the top of cell-phone tower hill, AKA Nyankunde Mountain.  Quick tip: you get a really good cell phone signal when you are at the base of the tower!

A bit of a hairy drive, a few gasps/prayers along the way, plus one bonked head...

...but worth it for the sunset!